Mandatory Recycling Ordinance

The Board of County Commissioners adopted Ordinance No. 07-25 on Sept. 11, 2007 regarding Mandatory Recycling of Commercial and Multi-Family Residential Solid Waste, and Construction and Demolition Debris.

 
What You Need to Know

• Who is affected by this ordinance?
  Businesses and Multifamily Dwelling Units (Condos, Apartments, etc.) in unincorporated Lee County and the City of Bonita Springs
   
• How soon must a new business become compliant with the ordinance?
  New businesses must start a program within 14 days of commencing a garbage service.
   
• Who is exempt from this ordinance?
  Businesses on minimal garbage service (70 gallons or less) are exempt from the ordinance.​
   

• Who is responsible for compliance?
  The entity responsible for garbage service is responsible for compliance with the Mandatory Business Recycling Ordinance such as a property owner for a strip mall, an individual business owner or a building owner.
  

Service Fees

Businesses must establish a service contract with a recycling hauler. Franchise haulers providing garbage service must provide recycling service for a standard fee. 

Other haulers, as well as franchise haulers outside their service area, can negotiate rates with individual customers. Below is a list of Lee County franchised haulers.

Businesses may self haul to a recycling center or vendor that does require additional record keeping to demonstrate compliance with the ordinance, including receipts and weight tickets.

Employee Education

Businesses must educate new employees upon hire and remind staff, at a minimum annually, regarding the company's recycling program. Education should indicate the What, How, and Where of the recycling program components. Some examples of educational materials include:

• Informational posters
• Distribution memos
• Reminders on pay stubs
• Other creative ideas to spread the word about the company's program

What Material Am I Required to Recycle?

The recyclable material that, by weight, makes up most of your solid waste stream. This may include:

• Fiber (office paper, cardboard, newsprint, magazines, junk-mail, fiberboard boxes, phone books, etc.)
• Comingled containers (plastics labeled #1 - #7, glass bottles or jars, aluminum or steel cans)
• Ferrous metals
• Non-ferrous metals (aluminum or copper)
• Wood
• Other (requires Solid Waste Department approval)

Businesses must complete a Recycling Plan Form and maintain on-site for review by County staff, if requested.

Your hauler will provide an outdoor container for your recyclables. Smaller containers for use within your business can be purchased at any home improvement center.

More Information

• Lee County's Mandatory Business Recycling Program brochure
• Sample Business Recycling Education Memo